Carly Holstein's Fundraiser:

Team Mike

THE STORY:

Rachel Rothman wrote -

Run/Bike/Swim/ANYTHING during 2012 withTeam Mike!

What is Team Mike?

Team Mike is a group friends, family & supporters who want to raise awareness and funds for the Michael D. Rothman CIDP Research Fund at Columbia University Medical Center. The goal of the research fund is to discover the tools necessary to provide early and conclusive diagnosis of CIDP and to add to the available treatments.

Who is Michael Rothman?

Michael Rothman is the just about the coolest 17-year-old kid you will ever meet! (Ask anyone of my friends, they would rather hang out with him than me!) When you meet him, you would never know he is suffering from CIDP. He never complains about receiving infusions, rather he tries to do things that no one has ever done before while being infused with meds. Do you know someone who had a poolside infusion, or rode in a sports car while receiving IV meds??? Well...Michael has done both! He is truly one of a kind, and there is absolutely no reason why he should be dealing with such a horrible disease!

So if Mike can set records while receiving treatments, then TEAM MIKE can set records racing in 2012, while raising funds and awareness for CIDP!!

Join TEAM MIKE to stay active in 2012 for a great cause!!

There is no fundraising minimum or obligations to get involved! Come out and join us for an event, come support our runners at a race, wear a Team Mike t-shirt to the gym...absolutely any participation will be greatly appreciated!

What is CIDP?

(the short version)

It is short for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

It is rare, generally affects 1 to 4 out of every 100,000 people.

It is most seen in men, age 20-40, although more kids are being diagnosed.

In summary, Michael’s immune system is being attacked by this disease and it is simply breaking down and compromising his nerves and muscles in both his hands and legs.

$64,000 Question, is the disease treatable? YES, there are treatments although only one is generally effective. The treatment requires heavy duty, home-based, infusionsof a drug called GAMUNEX.

Are the treatments a cure? Unfortunately not. This is a chronic disease. Once you get it, you will likely always have it. The goal of the treatments is to first stop the downward progression of the effects of CIDP. Then put the disease into remission and build the immune system back up to normal. This will then give the nerves and muscles a chance to heal and re-grow.